Patient Ceres tightens grip on Group F top slot

BACOLOD CITY—Stifled for long periods and missing numerous golden opportunities, Ceres Negros could have easily settled for a point.

But the Busmen, buoyed by an energetic Panaad Stadium crowd, struck twice late in the second half to turn back a stubborn Shan United side from Myanmar, 2-0, Tuesday night to keep top spot in Group F of the AFC Cup.

Substitute Patrick Reichelt and Bienvenido Maranon found the back of the net in the second half as the Busmen’s persistence finally paid off, enabling them to increase their tally to seven points from three matches.

Reichelt’s 79th minute goal came off a defensive error, but the strike was a vital one as the Busmen finally broke through against a team that was set out to frustrate their attack.

A moment of brilliance from Mike Ott set up Maranon for the second goal that finally sealed maximum points for the hosts. Ott beat three defenders on the left before cutting the ball back to Maranon who made no mistake.

“It’s not easy to play teams that are dedicated at defending, but the effort was good and of course the players gave everything,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic.

“But there’s a lot of things we have to improve. We have to be more patient when we build up. But the most important thing is that we got the goal and did not concede any goal.”

Ceres is now three points clear of Singapore’s Home United, which suffered a 3-2 loss to Boeung Ket in Cambodia Tuesday night. Shan and Boeung Ket have three points each, but the Myanmar champions are ahead on goal difference.

Only the top team in the group is guaranteed of a spot in the Asean zone semifinals.